The blue print on how to beat us is out

#103
#103
mscc1998 said:
Take the damn thing to the basket, make them foul and get us to the line while putting them in foul trouble.
THAT is how we win games.
If you live by the 3, you die by the 3.
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I posted this in another thread, but it applies here:

Here's the bottom line - this is an offense built around 3-point shooting, for better or worse. Chaz, Igor, and D-Stone were brought in primarily due to their 3-point shooting at their previous spots, and Barnes' offense relies a lot on paint touches and kick-outs for open 3's. When looked at that way, the offense worked on Tuesday, as at least 3/4 of the 45 shots were good looks, many wide open looks.

The offense worked last year because if JJJ, ZZ, and SV weren't hitting their shots, they played iso ball and ran Dalton off high screens, but they don't have anyone those year who can take over games. Chaz is a great spot up shooter and great in transition, but he isn't a shot creator at this point like DK was.

We have no shot creators or penetraters outside of ZZ and to some degree Gainey, and Igor seems to have some ability there. But it's going to be 3-point shooting where this group will sink or swim - hit a decent % (35-38%), and we will beat most teams. Hit less than that, and we might be able to beat some people with our defense, but teams that shoot it like UK will be bad matchups.

One more point - it was alarming to me that Barnes was talking about getting Felix and Cade more post touches. I love both of them, but their strengths don't include post scoring. They are rim protectors and rebounders first and foremost. As frustrating as it is, this team's fortunes will ride on our shooters breaking out of this funk and getting some consistency.
 
#104
#104
OldVolMan said:
This is one thing that really bothers me. The shooter and often the others do not follow the shots up. When I played BB they stressed we follow our own shot and we had at least one rebounder under both sides of the basket scrambling for position. That was stressed so strongly.

I get frustrated that often the shooter or any other player gets to the rim. I see often if everyone did not turn around and head toward the opposite end when the ball is in the air we could have probably gotten the rebound.

Am I the only one that has noticed that?
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It depends on the game situation. Transition defense is a huge part of the game and of Barnes' defensive philosophy, and if everyone is crashing the offensive glass you will have a ton of run-outs and easy transition baskets on the other end.

Generally, if we aren't behind late I'd prefer to make sure the other team is forced into playing half court offense off a miss rather than gamble on getting an offensive board. But generally speaking, UT is a pretty good offensive rebounding team.
 
#105
#105
Anti-shunshinepumper said:
The whole team has had a discipline problem on offense. A wasted possession is a wasted possession.
I'd probably agree with what you said above if I wasn't seeing other player making mistakes and wasting possessions on both sides the ball. Like I've said, I've seen other guys make mistakes and not immediately get pulled. Also, it's not like we're seeing someone come out and completely abuse him on defesne or something.
As far as offense, sometimes Dubar is so amped just to get in the game, he tries to do too much too quick. When you know you have little time to settle in/ time to try to prove yourself, it just makes sense you're going to be more rushed.
I digress. We've pretty much made our points in respect, too much more and we're beating a dead horse.
I want Barnes to succeed and I'm sure you would like to see Dubar thriving. Despite the reasons they're not atm, I hope that happens for both.
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I don't totally disagree regarding Dubar. Barnes seems to be very quick with the hook on him, and I kind of wish he would just let the kid play through some dumb plays because he might be the best we have at getting to the rack and finishing. Lord knows we can use any shot creating we can get at this point.
 
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#106
#106
Thunder Good-Oil said:
Missing good looks isn’t a discipline issue. Dubar has constantly been taking low percentage attempts early in possessions. Or the 3 times he’s done the opposite of what Barnes wanted at the end of games. I don’t see the same level of disregarding instructions from the other players. He seems to make a great play and then zeros in on taking another shot instead of staying within the offensive philosophy.

Even 4 years in, it looks like ZZ has adjusted to not attempt the low percentage lob passes as often - if at all.

There are only a few things that players can or can’t do that go against what they’re coached on offense. Stay under control and not get sloppy with the ball. Don’t get lazy or stupid passing the ball. Taking low percentage, contested shots early in shot clocks. Don’t turn down good looks. Get set before screening a defender. Be aware of the shot clock running down. Not passing up good shots is more of an instinct though while jacking up bad ones is a discipline problem.

There are many more on defense. Fouling. Not boxing out. Giving up the Vaseline just to name a few.
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Your points are right on, but at this point this group could use one or two guys offensively that can get to the rim or otherwise get their own shot, and Dubar has shown flashes of that ability. 100% agree with your offensive do's and don't's, but this team is in a mini-crisis of sorts offensively right now, and while the shooting might come back to a more acceptable level, maximizing what a kid might be able to offer on that end might be worth a mistake here and there.
 
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#112
#112
BigOrangeTrain said:
I wonder if Barnes is getting tired. Guy has been coaching for what almost 40 years?
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Don’t think so……..we are 17-4 overall, we’ve hit a bump in the road in a difficult conference, we will bounce back and start knocking some shots down. College basketball is a tournament sport, so how we do in March will determine the success of the season. We might lose 7 or 8 conference games, but it’s not because Barnes is wearing down physically.
 
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#113
#113
Deathandtaxes said:
We have never been a good shooting time the entire time Rick Barnes has been here…
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I would say we have not been a consistent good shooting team, but there have been numerous games where we have shot the ball really well in Barnes’ 10 year tenure. Remember, 1 game ago we were all happy with our showing at Auburn, then drop a home game to our rival, who always shoots well in our arena, and suddenly everyone is tired of Barnes. Not me, I remember how bad we were before he got here. Just sit back and support our coaches and team. We will be judged how we perform in March. Go Vols!
 
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#114
#114
sami said:
Your points are right on, but at this point this group could use one or two guys offensively that can get to the rim or otherwise get their own shot, and Dubar has shown flashes of that ability. 100% agree with your offensive do's and don't's, but this team is in a mini-crisis of sorts offensively right now, and while the shooting might come back to a more acceptable level, maximizing what a kid might be able to offer on that end might be worth a mistake here and there.
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That's what I'm saying. As painful as it was, I rewatched the game last night, and Dubar's D looked fine. Not only did he have that blocked shot and steal/dunk, he had another steal that lead to a Lanier 3. In the second half, I also saw multiple occasions where we retained possession from him fighting for/going after the ball after a miss.
On top of all that, I don't remember seeing his man he was guarding score on him once.
This narrative I've heard some push about him being a liability on D, I'm not buying it, dude.

Does he make a mistake now and again, sure but who doesn't? I saw Igor get one shot in his face, foul a 3 point shooter, and dunked on last night.
Does that make him a liability on defense?
I think most would say no.

If he D is passable ( which I think it's a lot better than that) I say give him some more minutes along with some isolation plays and post up on offense. If it's done right, it's just going to give everybody some much needed rest, too. Maybe if he played more in the Auburn game the starters wouldn't have been so tired last night.

If they do this and let him know they specifically want him to play closer the basket, I believe he would respond. That doesn't mean not to take a 3 in the right situation, because I believe he can also contribute there, too. He is going to have to make the effort, but the coaches are going to have to make the effort to change things up a little, too.
We are going to have to start getting to the basket more or we will continue to lose against good teams.
 
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#115
#115
Orangeslide said:
Don’t think so……..we are 17-4 overall, we’ve hit a bump in the road in a difficult conference, we will bounce back and start knocking some shots down. College basketball is a tournament sport, so how we do in March will determine the success of the season. We might lose 7 or 8 conference games, but it’s not because Barnes is wearing down physically.
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He's fit and healthy, but there is a specific sort of tired that can't necessarily be fixed by R&R, or a week's worth of sleeping in until 9
 
#116
#116
Anti-shunshinepumper said:
That's what I'm saying. As painful as it was, I rewatched the game last night, and Dubar's D looked fine. Not only did he have that blocked shot and steal/dunk, he had another steal that lead to a Lanier 3. In the second half, I also saw multiple occasions where we retained possession from him fighting for/going after the ball after a miss.
On top of all that, I don't remember seeing his man he was guarding score on him once.
This narrative I've heard some push about him being a liability on D, I'm not buying it, dude.

Does he make a mistake now and again, sure but who doesn't? I saw Igor get one shot in his face, foul a 3 point shooter, and dunked on last night.
Does that make him a liability on defense?
I think most would say no.

If he D is passable ( which I think it's a lot better than that) I say give him some more minutes along with some isolation plays and post up on offense. If it's done right, it's just going to give everybody some much needed rest, too. Maybe if he played more in the Auburn game the starters wouldn't have been so tired last night.

If they do this and let him know they specifically want him to play closer the basket, I believe he would respond. That doesn't mean not to take a 3 in the right situation, because I believe he can also contribute there, too. He is going to have to make the effort, but the coaches are going to have to make the effort to change things up a little, too.
We are going to have to start getting to the basket more or we will continue to lose against good teams.
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There is nothing that will create good open looks from 3 like an effective post game, forcing doubles and leaving open men. Cade and Felix aren't going to draw double teams because they aren't legit post up threats, but D-Stone might be that guy. Only one way to find out.

I believe Igor can be an effective post up player as well. Just waiting for this cold shooting spell to end is a dangerous game to play with a schedule like this one, and it might be time for Rick to try some different wrinkles to jump start this offense.
 
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#120
#120
chuckiepoo said:
Not as things currently stand. Depends on if the NCAA changes the eligibility rule. Decision is currently pending…
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I don't think they will because it would hurt the NIL money of the new class coming in.

If they did allow 5 years of actual on court playing time then it would be nice if they limited the number of transfers you can make.
Maybe to get that 5th year you have to play it at the same school you played your fourth year.
Or maybe something like you can only transfer every other year. I'm just tossing scenarios out on that. I haven't really put much thought into it, but I would like to see some incentive/rule to help keep players from being able to transfer every year.
 
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